Know It All

By Kaitlyn Piccoli
Feb. 14, 2008

Who needs St. Barth's? These days, rather than escaping the cold to visit the trendiest posh resorts on Caribbean islands, celebs instead are flocking to the hottest rehab centers. Kirsten Dunst, Eva Mendes, Sean Young and Amy Winehouse have all traded their first-class seats for a one-way ticket to sobriety (hopefully). Maybe it is becoming a hobby-The Insider co-host Pat O'Brien had so much fun detoxing the first time around, he's back for Round Two. In fact, rehab is such a Hollywood craze, they should make a show about it. Oh wait-they did.

Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew premiered on VH1 last month, showcasing Hollywood's finest D-listers as they struggle to salvage their possibly unsalvageable lives and careers. Now the folks at home can experience the lifestyle of the substance-abusing rich and famous too- because you simply haven't lived until you've watched a haggard-looking Jeff Conway-yeah, that's right, Kenickie from Grease-puking and screaming for pain pills. At this rate, next year's Oscars ceremony will be held at Promises Treatment Center.

Police: Man Murdered, Girlfriend Injured By Intruder In Mastic Home

By Kaitlyn Piccoli
Feb. 11, 2008

The Suffolk County Police Department Homicide Squad is investigating the fatal stabbing of a North Carolina corrections officer and the subsequent assault of his girlfriend that occurred at 147 Winters Dr. in Mastic on Feb. 10.

Seventh Precinct Police received a call at approximately 8:20 a.m. claiming that a man had been stabbed. Upon arriving at the residence, police met Dana Duford, 34, who told them she had been awakened by the sounds of a struggle within the house. She went to see what was happening and was reportedly punched in the face by an unidentified intruder who immediately fled to an unknown location.

She then discovered her boyfriend's lifeless body in another room. The victim- Tyrone A. Terry, a 21-year-old corrections officer employed at the Polk Correctional Facility in North Carolina-was stabbed to death.

Duford was not hospitalized for her injuries. Her 3-year-old son, who was also present in the house at the time of the incident, was not injured.

The Suffolk County Police Department Homicide Squad asks that anyone with information regarding this case to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS or the Suffolk Police at (631)852-6392. All callers will remain confidential.

Marijuana, Rifle Found In Holbrook Basement-Two Arrested

By Kaitlyn Piccoli
Feb.01, 2008

Two men were arrested on Jan. 30 for allegedly growing marijuana in the basement of their Holbrook home. Police who searched the house reportedly found 2 lbs. of packaged marijuana, along with a 9mm Cobray rifle and more than 200 hypodermic needles.

Seventh Squad Narcotics Enforcement Team detectives and Seventh Precinct uniform officers of the Suffolk County Police Department assisted Suffolk County Probation officers with a probation search order at 10:45 p.m. Upon searching the basement, officers confiscated a sophisticated hydroponics system-including high intensity grow lights and a plant cloning system-nurturing 234 marijuana plants. Steroids were also found.

Jason Schaal, 26, and William Zuckerman, 25, both of 818 Grundy Ave.-the residence where the contraband was found-were arrested and charged with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a hypodermic needle.

Schaal and Zuckerman were arraigned in the First District Court in Central Islip on Jan. 31.

Maximum Sentence For Alleged Maximus Killer

By Kaitlyn Piccoli
Jan. 23, 2008

A Long Island man who allegedly left his dog to die after setting it on fire was sentenced to two years in prison in a Riverhead court on Jan. 22.

Derick Phanord, 22, received the maximum sentence for the brutal killing of his pit bull. The dog, who rescuers renamed "Maximus," was discovered July 12 tied to a tree with severe burns covering most of his body. Authorities said the dog smelled of gasoline.

Phanord pleaded guilty in November to one charge of aggravated cruelty to animals, admitting that he tied the dog to the tree, doused him with gasoline, and incinerated him with a lit cigarette.

Maximus underwent three surgeries before he succumbed to his injuries on July 17.

"I am not a monster. I am a good guy," Phanord said, weeping in the Suffolk county court right before his sentencing. Judge C. Randall Hinrichs gave the self-proclaimed animal lover the maximum penalty, calling his actions "incomprehensible."

Phanord was also charged with one count of misdemeanor cruelty to animals, which he will serve along with the felony charge. In addition to the prison term, Phanord can have no further contact with his other pit bull, Red.

And So It Begins...

Well, this is my first official blog post, on my first official blog. Welcome.

I've decided to start this as an archive of sorts, so that all of my work is in one place, as opposed to being scattered throughout the interweb.

....And here it is.

The works featured here are in chronological order, from date of publication. I hope you enjoy what I have to say, or at least learn something new from it. Either way, let me know what you think, feedback is always valued and appreciated.